Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Some of the funds have been returned.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD — The fallout after the theft of more than $17,000 from the Hubbard Little Eagles football team has made it difficult for team leaders to find help covering the stolen funds.
Team supporters, however, have expressed their desire to help the squad recover financially.
According to police reports, Susan Hettrick, 37, of Buena Vista Road, acting as team treasurer, transferred more than $17,000 from the Hubbard Little Eagles’ savings account to her personal account over the past year.
Officials are not yet sure of the exact dollar amount missing from the team's account.
Hettrick has pleaded innocent to felony theft charges.
Team President Ed Williams called a meeting Tuesday to answer questions from the public, address any concerns and possibly garner support from community members who may still be skeptical.
Williams said Hettrick has made restitution on about 10 percent of the stolen money, but the returned funds are of no use to the team right now.
“We did get an amount of the money back. I am not allowed to say what that amount is, but we did get something back,” he said. “That money is frozen because of the way she pleaded, so we still have nothing.”
Hettrick, Williams said, was also bonded for $25,000, but that sum is contingent upon a conviction, and he is unsure how much the team will actually receive because of Hettrick’s attempt at paying the money back.
Some support
Williams said some community members have been supportive — one anonymous donor gave the $2,500 needed to pay the team’s insurance — but most people remain skeptical about supporting the team.
He has received calls asking that the team disband for the year and others asking the entire team board to resign.
Williams said 1,000 tickets were printed for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Sunday, but only about 100 of the tickets have been sold.
“I want to get the people involved,” he said. “In the beginning, we were getting a good response, but there really has been only a few people helping out and contributing.”
A couple dozen parents attended the meeting showing more concern about how the team could be made whole and particulars about practices and games rather than the controversy after the theft.
Those in attendance commended the board for how it handled the theft and suggested fundraisers such as a tag day to help get the team back on its feet.
Williams assured those in attendance that changes would be made to the organization’s bylaws and a new system of bookkeeping is being developed. He also said two signatures are now required to cash checks in the organization’s name.
jgoodwin@vindy.com